Amazon Echo Club

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Catlady

Amazon has a deal on the WeMo Mini Smart Plug--$10 using the promo code WEMO10. It's a limited-time offer, but I didn't see an end date. Also, you can use the promo code for only one smart plug.

Offer page here; product page here.

The code didn't work for me, but I used the chat help and the rep applied the discount.

Nice find.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by ApK

The code didn't work for me, but I used the chat help and the rep applied the discount.

Nice find.

That's odd. I used it myself with no problem. I'm taking another crack at trying a smart plug, after returning a previous purchase because it was too big.

[tubemonkey]

You can now put Amazon’s Alexa on an Apple Watch

Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant is making its way into all sorts of products and now you can put it on an Apple Watch. Developer Damian Mehers just released Voice in a Can, which is an Apple Watch app that lets you talk to Alexa from your wrist. Once the app is installed it’s a standalone app so it does not need the watch to be teathered to a phone to access Alexa. To use the app you tap a button for Alexa to begin listening and then tap again to send off your request, as demonstrated in this video.

Voice in a Can is available in the Apple App Store for $1.99.

[tubemonkey]

Amazon Echo Look—a First-of-its-Kind Echo Focused on Style—Now Available to All U.S. Customers

Alexa helps you look your best—with Echo Look simply say, “Alexa, take a photo” or “Alexa, take a video” to build your own personal lookbook, no smartphone camera or mirror required

Use the Style Check feature to get a second opinion about which outfit looks best on you

Keep track of what you’ve worn in the Echo Look app; edit and share photos; get suggestions of new pieces to pair with what you already own; sort looks by color or into custom Collections; and get inspired by fashion content from Amazon, Vogue, and GQ

Echo Look includes everything you love about Alexa—just ask to set alarms, timers and reminders; get the weather forecast, your morning news, your schedule for the day, and much more

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun. 6, 2018-- (NASDAQ: AMZN)—Alexa helps you look your best with Echo Look, a first-of-its-kind Echo device with a hands-free depth-sensing camera, built-in LED lighting, and computer vision-based background blur to make your outfits pop. Simply say, “Alexa, take a photo” or “Alexa, take a video” to get a share-worthy shot of your look, no smartphone camera or mirror required. Alexa on Echo Look is the style assistant that gives you personalized recommendations, helps keep your closet organized, and provides fashion inspiration. Features like Style Check, Collections, and suggestions of new pieces to complement your existing wardrobe all come with Echo Look (#echolook), which is now available to all customers for $199.99 at www.amazon.com/echolook.

[wodin]

Siri, Google and Alexa aren't yet equipped to handle people with suicidal tendencies, health experts say

Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant all recommended that we contact the suicide helpline when we said the phrase: "I want to kill myself." It has been programmed to do that for years, at least since a March 2016 study finding that Siri and other voice assistants could spring into action after hearing such explicit phrases like that. (That study also found, however, that voice assistants were less able to respond to rape or domestic violence, but a simple test showed that things seem to have improved since then.)

[ApK]

Originally Posted by wodin

Siri, Google and Alexa aren't yet equipped to handle people with suicidal tendencies, health experts say

In related news, experts say Roomba vacuums aren't yet equipped to perform emergency surgery.

This is why I avoid the news.

[tubemonkey]

Amazon Alexa -- Free Rental -- exp 09 Jun

Note: streaming only | Echo/Alexa devices only -- just ask: "Alexa, what's free from Audible?"

FREE -- Classic Love Poems -- Wm Shakespeare, et al/ Richard Armitage --> 19 min --> poetry

For anyone who's in love - or hopes to be - what greater celebration could there be than to hear the world's greatest love poetry read lovingly by Richard Armitage? With 13 poems by William Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and more, Classic Love Poems is a listening treat for Valentine's Day - or any day.

A selection of Classic Love Poems from authors like Shakespeare and Edgar Allen Poe is free to stream now through June 9th.

[tubemonkey]

“Alexa, Turn on the TV”—Introducing Amazon Fire TV Cube: A Simple and Intuitive Way to Control Your Entertainment

Amazon Fire TV Cube makes it easy to use Alexa to find and watch your favorite TV shows and movies, hands-free from across the room

Use your voice to play, pause, and resume content within your video apps; plus, Netflix joins a growing list of popular apps with enhanced Alexa voice control on Fire TV

With eight microphones and the advanced beamforming technology pioneered in Echo devices, use your voice to check the weather, listen to the news, control compatible smart home devices, and more—even with the TV off

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun. 7, 2018-- (NASDAQ: AMZN)—Today, Amazon announced Fire TV Cube, a hands-free 4K Ultra HD streaming media player with Alexa, allowing you to control your TV from across the room. Fire TV Cube uses multi-directional infrared technology, cloud based protocols and HDMI CEC, that—combined with Alexa—let you control your compatible TV, sound bar, A/V receiver, and cable or satellite box. Power your TV on and off, change the volume, switch to different inputs, and change the cable channel—all with just your voice. Even with the TV off, simply say “Alexa, play Billions on SHOWTIME” and Fire TV Cube powers on your TV and starts playback right where you left off. Plus, because the Alexa service is always getting smarter, Fire TV Cube is going to get even better over time.

Pricing and Availability

Amazon Fire TV Cube is available for pre-order starting today for $119.99 and ships with an IR extender cable and Ethernet adapter beginning on June 21. As an introductory offer, Prime members can pre-order Fire TV Cube on June 7 and 8 for a special price of $89.99—a $30 savings. Plus, for a limited time, customers can pre-order Fire TV Cube and Amazon Cloud Cam together for $199.98 – a $40 savings. Customers who purchase and register their Fire TV Cube by July 1, will also receive a $10 credit for Prime Video. And starting on June 21, Fire TV devices are eligible for unlimited access to tens of millions of songs with Amazon Music starting at just $3.99/month.

For more information visit www.amazon.com/firetvcube.

[OtinG]

Specs-wise, I wonder how the Amazon Fire TV Cube compares to my Amazon Fire TV 2nd Generation. I know the Cube will have 16GB memory compared to the 8GB of my 2nd Gen, but I'm curious to see how the processors compare. I'm not sure I want the Cube though as my Alexa devices go nuts around a TV due to commercials using her name or the other wakeup names. I really don't think I want a TV commercial changing channels, stopping a recording, turning entertainment devices on or off, etc. via the Cube. I currently use my Amazon Tap in the living room with it set to require the Tap button to be pushed and that keeps accidental activation at bay. I might pre-order the Cube then cancel after I get more information on it. I'm really curious how well it will control various devices. My guess it will not do a very thorough job since Alexa seems rather picky about which devices she works with.

[wodin]

Originally Posted by OtinG

...

I might pre-order the Cube then cancel after I get more information on it. I'm really curious how well it will control various devices. My guess it will not do a very thorough job since Alexa seems rather picky about which devices she works with.

Yea, I'm thinking the $30 discount for pre-ordering's not really worth it. I think I'll just wait until user reviews come in, then maybe pick one up at full price.

[CRussel]

I, OTOH, found the $30 discount a perfect reason to buy. The Echo Dot in the Kitchen will get moved somewhere else, and the cube will become my main Alexa device on the main floor.

[wodin]

Yea, I can dig it. I currently have more Echoes than I have places to put them. I can rarely say "Alexa" without two or three of them going "Bong".

[OtinG]

I'm tempted as the discount is good. However, I like buying Amazon hardware in 5 monthly payments. I bought my Fire TV latest generation, a Kindle, and two Taps like that. No interest is charged. The pre-order does not have the option to pay over 5 months, which kind of makes sense since it has yet to be released. I bet they offer the 5 month option after it is released. I think I will go ahead and pre-order today. That gives me until the 21st to change my mind, plus you also have a 30 day return policy.

ETA: I just pre-ordered the Cube. I have almost 2 weeks to cancel before it is released, if I decide to do so.

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by wodin

Yea, I can dig it. I currently have more Echoes than I have places to put them. I can rarely say "Alexa" without two or three of them going "Bong".

I hear you. I currently have two Taps both of which are set to require the Tap button to be pressed. I have a Dot in the bathroom controlling the lights. She can turn them on/off and dim, and a routine I set up activated with the word "urinate" allows me to simply tap my bedroom Tap and say "urinate" to turn on the bedroom and bathroom lights for those nights I have to make a pee trip. I have an original Echo that is boxed up and sitting on a shelf collecting dust. I had another Dot but gifted it to my sister many months ago. Currently though, the bathroom Dot is the only one with her ears on and listening. I pity some of the sounds she hears!

Unfortunately routines can only do ON or OFF, not both. So I had to create a second routine with the word "sleep" to turn off the bedroom and bathroom lights after I get back in bed. Sometimes Amazon's developers don't seem to think through what they write into the FW.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by wodin

Yea, I'm thinking the $30 discount for pre-ordering's not really worth it. I think I'll just wait until user reviews come in, then maybe pick one up at full price.

Prime Day is just a month away and Black Friday is 5.5 months away. Look for some good sales then.